Magnetic recording medium comprising a specified binder resin, specified ferromagnetic metal powder and .alpha.-alumina

A magnetic recording medium comprising a support having a magnetic layer provided thereon, said magnetic layer containing;

• (1) a ferromagnetic powder having an adsorbed moisture content of 1.0% to 2.5% by weight based on said ferromagnetic powder, and a specific surface area of at least 45 m.sup.2 /g as measured by the BET method and a pH value of 9.0-11.5;
• (2) alpha alumina having a BET specific surface area of 11 m.sup.2 /g to 35 m.sup.2 /g,
• (3) a fatty acid in an amount of not more than 4 mg/m.sup.2, and a fatty acid ester in an amount of 5 mg/m.sup.2 to 100 mg/m.sup.2 based on said recording medium, as determined by extraction dipping said medium in cyclohexane for three minutes;
• and
• (4) a binder resin having at least one polar group selected from the group consisting of;
• ##STR11## wherein M represents hydrogen, lithium, sodium, or potassium;
• and M.sup.1 and M.sup.2 each represent hydrogen, lithium, sodium, potassium, or an alkyl group,
• said resin having a molecular weight of 2,000 to 70,000, and each polar group having a molecular weight of 200 to 70,000.